IT'S not difficult to understand why Malaysians are angry. They had enough of our national football team. We were brought to our knees yet again - this time in the Asian Cup. It's more humiliating when we are thrashed at home.
Still, I must give it to the grand old man of Malaysian football. That he came out with his guns blazing to face the public outrage over the sorry state of our football affairs is something I wouldn't criticise.
Sultan Ahmad Shah, president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), stood his ground, even as the chorus of voices calling for change in the FAM increased.
"I am not a coward and I will not back out," declared the Sultan of Pahang and long time FAM chief.
Tell you what, I have to salute the fighter in the sultan. He will not quit when the going gets tough. That's when the tough should get going, right?
Another act which I find admirable in Sultan Ahmad Shah this past week is that he was up and flying in his helicopter helping in the search for the RMAF Nuri which disappeared into the dense mountain range of his home state. The lingering football fiasco did not distract him one bit from performing his duty as the RMAF Colonel-in-Chief in searching for his men lost in the jungles. Now, that is a gallant officer and a true gentleman!
Disrespectful of royalty
However, the criticisms against the sultan's leadership of the FAM continued as Malaysia fell 2-0 to Iran in the ongoing Asian Cup last Wednesday. Humiliation at the hands of China (5-0) and Uzbekistan (5-1) earlier precipitated this new round of outcry against the FAM.
While I share the disappointment and frustration of many Malaysians in our declining football standard, I must also express my disgust at the disrespectful manner some quarters had lambasted the FAM and its leadership. Some of the words used were rather disrespectful of royalty.
One national daily, in particular, has been very unkind to the grand old man of Malaysian football. It had dedicated one entire back page to the FAM with the letters R.I.P. which can only mean 'Rest In Peace'. I take that as another way of saying: "It's time to go, f**k off!"
I think that scathing attack was rather uncalled for. It was an act of the highest disrespect for the FAM and Sultan Ahmad Shah as its president.
If I were to challenge the editors and journalists responsible for that 'graffiti' in their paper to take over the FAM, I wonder whether they actually know what to do.
One Chinese daily also commented that FAM's failure to redeem the country's glory in the sport has reached a stage where major "surgery" should be done on the association.
None, however, offered any solution to the problem apart from demanding for heads in the FAM to roll.
Now, writing and criticising is the easy part - getting down to the real thing is always difficult. Ask me, I should know - I have been writing and criticising for as long as I can remember. The only thing I've learnt now is not to be too judgmental on people and issues, bearing in mind my own faults and failures. That's one way to keep my sharp tongue at bay, which in turn will keep my brain from tripping a short circuit.
What is worrying is that some local media organisations could be used as tools by their political masters to get rid of the FAM chief so that they could take over the football association. Should this be true, I have to say that I personally prefer royalty rather than politicians in running our sports associations. We have seen enough of the political mess created by politicians in some of our sports organisations in the past.
But I think that the Olympic Council of Malaysia headed by a member of the Negri Sembilan royalty is doing very well in managing Olympic sports in the country.
Are we dependent on one man?
Still, the media must also be congratulated for doing their part in getting across the message to the government that the rot in our football must be halted. That should suffice. There is no need to go overboard by launching scathing attacks at leaders of sports bodies.
Although the Cabinet has agreed that there must be a revamp of the national football team and the management of Malaysian football, the ministers stopped short of requesting Sultan Ahmad Shah to step down. They did the right thing, probably more out of respect than anything else.
But seriously, is the sultan the main obstacle to Malaysia's football fortunes? Even if there are people who believe he is, I also think it would be unfair to put the blame squarely on his shoulders alone. It is sad indeed if Malaysian football is only dependent on one person, or has this been the case all these years?.
FAM deputy president Tengku Abdullah, Sultan Ahmad Shah's eldest son, has resigned. He said that after being the Number Two at FAM since 1994, he had contributed enough to Malaysian football and would like to concentrate on other things now.
I think that's fair enough. After a long spell in managing football, as in doing other work, it can get monotonous and it's likely that you will also run out of ideas. So Tengku Abdullah made a wise move. If you are tired and worn out, it's best to let another fresh body, and mind, take over.
The 48-year-old prince has been exemplary. Perhaps many of those managing football in the states who have grown tired of their work and are now sleeping on the job and warming their seats should seriously follow the prince's example. If you have outlived your usefulness, please make way for another person.
Then we come to another question. Who are prepared to step into the big shoes of Tengku Abdullah or his father should he also decide to quit? Other prominent names are already involved in other sports? Those capable and with the means and the time would not want to take the risk in doing something voluntary and incurring the wrath of football fans if things go wrong. Football is too big to be handled by the unwilling, the undetermined and the unfaithful.
Then, we also have to think over carefully whether an en bloc resignation of FAM officials would solve the problem or, instead, cause more problems.
By last Tuesday, most of the top brass in the FAM had resigned or had given notice of their intention to quit. The key people remaining are Sultan Ahmad Shah and representatives from the various states.
Talking about football associations in the states, it is true that many have not been managed properly. I do not have to look far - the FA in my home state, Sarawak, is one 'fine' example.
I have to say that I find it extremely shameful to hear that the Sarawak team could not make it to Kuantan recently for a Malaysia Cup tie because the Sarawak FA did not have the money to purchase flight tickets for the players. That was indeed shocking! This is the first time I've heard of such an incident. I hope it will be the last.
Yesterday, I've read that the Sarawak FA will be organising a charity football match. The purpose - to raise enough funds to pay the arrears of the state players. Entrance is free but spectators are expected to make a voluntary donation. So Sarawak footballers literally depend on charity now for a living. How much more humiliating can it get?
Don't get emotional over football
No, I wouldn't suggest that all the State FAs officials step down just as I wouldn't think all the FAM people should go. Let it be voluntarily. If they feel they cannot perform anymore, they should voluntarily let go. If Sultan Ahmad Shah feels he is able to carry on contributing to Malaysian football, then let him...until the 'saviour' (whoever he may be) of Malaysian football is willing to step in.
All involved must clearly understand that the decline of football in Malaysia is not the sole responsibility of the FAM alone - the state FAs should be equally blamed. FAM can set the policies but if they are not carried out by the states, then they are also to be blamed.
This is also why I feel it is so unfair for people to criticise Sultan Ahmad Shah and the FAM without offering any solution to the problem.
I'm afraid I do not have a clear solution myself. What I do know, however, is that we must find and develop talent at a young age. How can we attract our kids to play football seriously again?
If the FAM has the answers to that and start developing a meticulous structure around that circle with the full support from the authorities, we could see the light at the end of the tunnel by 2020, perhaps?
Meanwhile, let me appeal to my fellow Malaysians not to get too emotional over football - it's just a game lah !
Assuming that Malaysia won the World Cup in Germany last year, the euphoria and celebrations would probably last a week. Then life would be back to normal.
As for the hype over national pride, what national pride? For one, I would be a prouder Malaysian if only there is a more accountable and transparent government.
Ask the Brazilians and Italians. They won the World Cup many times. So...what's the big deal!
FRANCIS PAUL thinks it's less stressful to take football as just a game to watch and enjoy, leaving out the politics. He can be reached at [email protected]
